Fare-register and alarm



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l. W. J. RICHARDSON.

FARE REGISTER AND ALARM.

No. 276,713. Patented May 1,1883.

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(No Model.) A 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W; J. RICHARDSON. FARE REGISTER AND ALARM. No. 276,713. Patented May 1,1883.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. RICHARDSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

FARE-REGISTER ANDALARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,713, dated May 1,188?.

Application filed January 10, 1882.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. RICHARD- sort, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of NewYork, have invented a new and useful Alarm-Register for Railroad-Fares,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in alarm-registers for use on.street and steam railways, whereby fares may be immediately recorded onreceipt thereof; and its nature consists, first, in the combination,with the register proper, of a watch with its face exposed to view, butwith its works so secured to or within the register-case as to be onlyunder the control of the time and fare keeper, who only isintrusted withthe keyof the alarmregister; second, in a novel means by which therecorded fares may be more expeditiously counted; third, in a novelmeans whereby the time-keeper is enabled to quickly and easily adjustthe pointers of the recording-dials; fourth, in a novel construction andcombination ot' a reciprocating finger-slide, springpawl and hammer,alarm-bell,and registering mechanism, whereby an alarm and registeringmechanism is controlled against any attempted false movements of theslide by the conductor, while the correct movements of the slide aresecured; fifth, in novel means whereby unauthorized persons areprevented from opening or taking the case apart; and,sixth,in certainother combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter describedand specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is afront view of my improvedalarm-register, the cover below the watch being broken away in order toexhibit the interior parts. Fig. 2 is a rear view, showing the cover inrear of the watch and the cover of the registering-dials open in orderto exhibit to view the parts covered thereby. Fig.3 is a centralcross-section in the line or x of Fig. 1, and through the central andmain arbors of the watch. Fig. 4 is a cross-section in the line ;1 y ofFig. 3. Fig. 5 is a front view of the mechanism of one of the alarmfare-registers. Fig. 6 is a View of the same, illustrating a certainstage of its operation hereinafter explained. Fig. 7 is a side elevationof the upper part of the case of the tNo model.)

alarm fare-register and the operating fingerpieces. Fig. 8 is asectional detail view of the locking device of the entrance-cover of thewatch.

Similar letters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views.

A is a case adapted for inclosing a watch,

B, and mechanisms O D of two registers and time and fare-register keeperof the railroad company, and consequently he only has access to thescrews and thus unauthorized persons are prevented from gaining accessto the interior of the case A without being discovered. The hollow coverE also ineloscs the dials c c o and d d. (1 01" the recordingmechanisms, thus preventing all persons except the time and t'are keeperfrom inspecting or adjusting the pointers. Inclosed by the hollow coverE is also the handle 9 of a spring-bolt, G, in the case A, whereby aplain cover, H, suitably hinged to the case A, is locked to the back ofsaid case by means of a hook-hasp, 72 on said cover. This cover H,hinged at h to the case A, closes up an opening, a, in the back of thecase, opposite the arbors I) I) of the watch B. A spring, B, suitablyfastened to the case A and bearing against the inner side of the coverELserves to throw the lid open when unbolted. The watch-worksB arebypreference inclosed in a case, b and suitably fastened to the innerside of the cover A, two holes, IN), ofsufiicientsize being provided inthe back of the case if to admit a watch-key for winding up oradjustingthe watch. 'An elastic pad, If, is provided on the cover H,wherewith the holes I) b are eiiiciently covered when the coverI'l. isshut, and thus dust is excluded from the watch. The dial of the watch isprotected by a glass plate, I), suitably secured to the cover A, and itis always exposed to the view of the passengers. The upper part of thecase A is provided 'with rigid finger-pieces or handles ICO a and ringsa to which latter the suspendingstrap of the apparatus isfastened. Belowthe handles a a slidiu g finger-piece or handle, a, is provided,wherebythe reciprocating slides I of the respective register and alarmmechanisms are operated. Oneofthe handles a has a shield, a with thenumber 3 upon it, and the other has a similar shield, a with the number5 upon it. These numbers serve as guides in recording a three'ecnt or afive-cent fare. Either of the handles a operates a similar mechanism,and the description of one of those mechanisms will serve for both. Thehandle a moves in a slot, M, in the side of the case A, and extends intothe case, where it is fastened to slide I by means of screws '17.Between the slide I and the inner side of the case A a shield, t, isprovided on the handle a, which is made of strong and unyielding metal,(steel,) and ofa size large enough to completely cover the slot to" atany position the fingerpieee or handle may occupy, and which thusprevents the introduction o'i' any instrument through the slot into theinterior of the case. A tension-spring,1, attached to a hook, 1", on theslide 1 and a hook, a, on the ease'A, serves to keep the slide indownward position. Each slide 1 (see Figs. 1, 5, and 6) is at its endpro vided with a spring-pawl, i which operates the ratchetj ofaratchet-wheel, J, the arborj of which extends through the back of thecase A, and is there provided with a pointer, j The arbor j is alsoprovided with a piniomj, into which a gear-wheel, J, meshes. The arborjof the gear-wheel J is provided with a pinion,j*", and also a pointer,7' The pinion j meshes into a gear-wheel, J upon an arbor, j, which isalso provided with a pointer, j*. The several wheels mentioned are soconstructed that the pointers on the three arbors j j j will point outunits, tens, and hundreds upon their respective dialsc c"e or d d (P.Each of the pointers j" is provided with a central longitudinal slot,jand thus the pointer clasps its arbor on two opposite sides withsufficient grasp to revolve truly with the arbor, while the operator canmove it with his fingers, independent of the arbor, around the arbor,for the purpose of adjustment with respect to the figures on the dials.By this construction the counting of the fares is greatly facilitated,inasmuch as the conductor receives the alarm-register out of the handsof the time-keeper with all the pointers set upon zero, and at the endof his return-trip delivers the same with the positive number ofcollected fares, while in ordinary registers the fastened pointers mustbe allowed to move forward, and the notation of fares of each trip canonly be made by way of subtraction and addition, the same as withgas-meter registers. This splitfrictional or clasping pointer servesalso the very important purpose of pre venting breakage of thegear-wheels and other mechanism when the pointersj of the dials c and dare arrested at the zero-points by stops,

as (1 (which will be presently described,) for when the conductorattempts to fraudulently move the said pointers around beyond thezero-points of said dials said pointers will slip on their arbors undersuch attempt of the conductor to work the register, and remain stillagainst said stops, while their arbors will re' volve with the toothedgear-wheels between the finger-pieces a and the arborsj". Instead ofsplitting the pointers, they may be constructed to work with simply ai'rictional bind upon the arbors. The ratchet-wheel J is held inposition by a spring-pawl, K, which has its fulcrum at 76, and to whicha bell-hammer, k, is attached. A spring, 73, suitahlyi'astened to thecase A, forces the pawl K into the deeply-cut ratchet-teeth jot theratchet-wheel J, and also supplies the necessary power for operating thebell-hammer It. A backlash-spring, k fastened at to the case A, bearsupon the inclined portions of the ratchet-teeth j, as seen in Figs. 1,5, 6, and prevents inaccurate movements of the ratchet-wheel byconstantly keeping the teeth of the ratchet-wheel in contact with thespring-pawl i of the slide I. The arbors j j" j are confined between theback of the case A and a bearing-plate, J, suitably fastened to the caseA, and to this hearingplate two bells, L L, are suitably attached, thesmaller one, L, being inside the larger one, L, and projecting slightlybeyond it, so as to permit its being struck by its hammer 7.1 withoutsounding the bell L. The bell L is sounded by a hammer, is, of themechanism operated by the handle a, bearing the number 5. The dials 0 (2indicating the hundreds of fares, are each provided with a steppingarm,(1, suitably fastened to the back of the case A, and limited in itsmovement by two stop-pins, m. This arm (1 when perpendict'ilar, extendsover a dial, as e 01 at or near zero, and, bearing against a right-handpin ot' dial 0 or the left-hand pin oi" dial d serves to stop thefarther forward progress of the pointerj", while the left-hand pin m ofdial 0 and the right-hand pin of dial (1 prevent the pointcrs movingbackward far enough to allow oi their being passed by the zero-marks ofthe dials. A stop, (1, constructed as a spring, and having a detent-1in,'m, in the center of its loose end, and extending from the under sideof the pointer and entering a socket in the plate of case A, might beemployed, and then the left-hand pin m of dial 0 might be dispensedwith, and still any attempt of the conductor to work the pointer jbeyond zero in the direction of the arrow would be frustrated. Thisdetentpin may not be necessary, as the stop (1 can be made with a springbinding action upon the case A and clamped tight b 7 its ivot-screw' andit desirable the sto I v I 7 0 7 4 might be iastened rlgidly to case Aby two pins or screws passed through it, and both pins m dispensed with.The best plan of construction is to have two pins, 212, and allow thepointer a very slight movement between them,

. fares and not be detected.

A. I it all so that the pointer may be adjusted accurately and properlyat zero. By this construction one thousand fares can be indicated, butnot more, and this number being found from experience in excess of thenumber of fares received in a day, the correct counting will notbeinterfered with; but without said stoppingarm the conductor mightoperate the register in secret until the pointers of the dials c d arebeyond zero, andin goingagain toward zero stop atamuch lower number thanthe numberof the collected fares, and thus be enabled to appropriatewithout detection one or more hundred fares. If, for instance, he hadcollected six hundred fares, he could operate an ordinary register so asto pass the zero-point until the pointer of the dial 0 or (Z points to100 or 200, making it appear that he had collected only one hundred ortwo hundred fares, and thus he could retain five hundred or four hundredPrevious to delivering the alarm-register into the hands of theconductor, the time and fare keeper adjusts the instrumentiu thefollowing manner: With the key he opens the lock F and raises the coverE, thereby exposing the dials c c o and d (1 (1 and the handle 9 of thespringbolt G. He next draws back the handle 9 of the spring-bolt Gr,whereupon the cover H be comes unlocked and flies open, exposing thearborsbbofthewatchB. Henowwindsupthe watch bymeans of the arbor b andadjusts the time by means of the arbor b. He then closes the cover H andturns the several pointers j" to 00f their respective dials, those ofthedials 0 d being respectively turned back to the right side of thestop 61 0f dial 0 and to the left side of said stop of dial (1". He nowcloses the cover E and locks it, and the alarm-register is ready for useby the conductor. If the inner mechanism of the case A is to beinspected, the screw-bolts a are removed, the cover E is unlocked, andthe screw-bolts a are removed. The cover A is now lifted from the caseA, and the whole inner mechanism is exposed to view.

The alarm-register is suspended on a strap which is attached to therings a and the dial of the watch B is constantly exposed to view of thepassengers, who are thus benefited by having the standard time beforetheir eyes. The numbers 3 and 5 on the handles a enable the passengersto watch the movements of the conductor in recording the received fares,the number 3 for a three-cent fare being, for example, set in a redenameled background, and the number 5 for a five-cent fare having agreen enameled background.

In the management of railroads it is desirable to afford the public thegreatest possible benefit while a proper revenue is being earned by theproprietors or companies serving the public. To this end itisimportantto provide a standard time-piece as a part of the alarm fare-register,from which the public as well as the conductor may know the true time,the time-piece being a means whereby the public are served, and by whichthe company is benefited, both in having the trip of the respective carsrun in accordance with its time-table, and also in making the conductorcareful to sound the alarm and register the fare received, due to thefact that a passenger will almost invariably look at thetime-piece whenhe pays his fare,and thereby know the fact should an alarm not besounded and a fare registered. The expense of equipping a railroad withalarm fare=registers and time-pieces would be very great ifthe registersand time-pieces were constructed separately. Besides this, there wouldnot be that uniformity in the time-pieces, and great inconvenience wouldbe experienced in going from car to car and winding up and setting thetime-pieces.

By my invention of uniting in one case both a time-piece and a farealarm and register the extra cost for conductors watches with comparatively expensive cases or forseparate ti mepieces located in the cars isavoided. The public is furnished at all times with true time, while theconductor is enabled to make his respective trips in accordance with thestandard time-table of the company; and the company in turn isbenefited, since the conductor is made more careful in registering thefares he receives, from the fact that every passenger is curious andanxious enough to watch the conductor,in order to ascertain the time, asufficient length of time to know whether the fare he hasjust paid isregistered.

My invention also enables railroad companics to register full andfractional fares, and still have a very compact register. It alsofacilitates the operation of counting fares. It also prevents othersthan proper officers interfering with the register. It also places acheck upon the conductor, inasmuch as it is impossible for him to passthe maximum capacity of the register, and by secret sounding of hisalarm turn the registeririg-pointers to positions which indicate a lessnumber of fares than those actually taken in; and it also prevents anyinterference with the time-piece by others than authorized officers.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A conductors alarm fate-register provided with means by which it canbe carried and operated by the conductor, and having its case of theconstruction substantially as described, whereby it is adapted forcontaining the alarm and fare-registering mechanism and a watch, and forexposing the face of the watch to passengers in the car, and securingunder lock and key the alarm and registering mechanism and works of thewatch against any attempt of the conductor to improperly operate thesame, all for the purpose set forth.

2. In an alarm and fare register, a maximum counting-dial,c providedwith a pointer or index-hand and a stop-arm, (1, against which the indexpointer orhand strikes, and by which confine all theparts, substantiallyas described.

described.

said hand is prevented from passing forward 1 beyond zero while theregister is in the hands of the conductor, in combination with one ormore lower counting-dials, as c 0, whereby the highest number of farescounted by dial a will always be registered and indicated thereon belowor at zero, and a false indication by the conductor moving the pointerpast zero and beyond the starting of the stop cannot be made,substantially as described.

3. Thealarm and fare register provided with the npward-reciprocatingslide I, purchasehandles a, lifting spring-pawl t ratchet-wheel J,having the beveled teeth j, pivoted springpawl K, formed to slip overthe beveled teeth and fall between the same, and having a hammer,connected to it, and spring k which bears on the beveled surface of theteethj until the pawl 1' is lifted by the slide, and then acts to arrestthe movement of the ratchet beyond one tooth, all arranged and operatingas and for the purpose described.

4. The case A, having removable cover A, and provided with the swinginglocked cover E and the screw-bolts a substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

5. The slide-bolt G, attached to case A, in combination with the cover Hand the cover E, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

(5. In a portable alarm fare registering and timekeeping apparatus, thecover H, having the dust-pad b attached to and moving with it,incombination with the removable case I), surrounding the watch, and thecase A A and locking-cover E, which support, contain, and

7. In an alarm fare registering and timekeeping apparatus, the removablecase If, provided with holes opposite the arbors of the watch, incombination with the case A A, locking-cover E, and watch B,substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

S. In an alarm and fare-register, the ratchetwheel J, having teethbeveled, as j, in combination with the pivoted pawl K and spring kshouldered pawl i, and upward-moving slide I, whereby the spring 79, inconjunction with the other parts, pre ents the ratchet moving more thanone tooth for each stroke of the slide, substantially as described.

9. In an alarm and fare-register, the maximum counting-dial 0 providedwith stop-arm (1 in combination with one or more lower counting-dials,as c c, and a safety lockingcover, E, substantially as and for thepurpose 10. The combination of a portable car-fareregister case acar-fare-registering mechanism, and a Watch-movement, the combinationbeing such that the watch mechanism is unconnected with thecar-fare-registering mechanism, and the conductor prevented from havingaccess to either the car-fare-registering mechanism or the watchmechanism, substantially as and for the purpose described.

11. An alarm fare-register containing, in addition to the alarm andfare-registering mechanism, a watch or time-piece exposed to the view ofthe passengers, for the purpose set forth, the works of said watch ortime-piece having no connection with the alarm or regis teringmechanism.

12. Ina fare-register, a casing carrying with in it the operating-gears,and having dials and indices upon its outer surface, and provided with aglass-covered recess for receiving a watch, in combination with a lid,H, for closing holes leading to the watch-recess, and a hingedlocking-cover, E, adapted to entirely close the dials, indices, and thedevice for fastening the lid of the said watch-recess,substantially asdescribed. 13. In a fare-register, a casing carrying registering andgong mechanism, and provided with a glass-covered recess and a watchwithin said recess, in combination with a device, substantially asdescribed, for preventing undue access to the works of said watch fromthe rear of said recess, as and for the purpose specified.

1-1. In a portable fare-register, a casing-covering carrying theregistering and gong mechanism,and provided with a recess for receivinga watch, in combination with the lid H, the locking plate or cover E,and a device forlocking the lid H, arranged substantially as de scribed,whereby it can only be operated when the locking-cover E is opened, asand for the purpose specified.

15'. In a fare-register, a pivoted stopindex constructed to oscillatebetween two stationary pins, in combination with an index movingentirely around its dial and adapted to operate directly against thestop-index from either side, both the index and pins and pivoted stop being arranged on the front face of the dial-plate, substantially asdescribed.

WILLIAM J. RICHARDSON.

Witnesses:

DAVID GRIBBEN, AUGUSTUS H. SMITH.

